The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-05
orrss WORK on TIE rAnN.

In these days Of sharp competition, mar
row margins Of profit, close calculation aud
the application Of mathematical accuracy 10
the conduct Of almost all human occupation,
IL Is astonishing that the business Of farming
Is stll often carried on in such loose way.
In many eases Il is very largely guess work.
Every merchant and manufacturer knows
that To escape bankruptcy lac must clearly
observe business principles, and must at
least keep accounts. simple perhaps, but
complete and accurate On the contrary,
good many farmers don't even keep cash
account; they know how much money there
i in the wallet, but beyond this their iinan-
Cial Affairs are very misty, aud the income
and outgo jndged only by guessing, more or
less shrcwd. Vet farming Is business; In
decd, it Is the business OF the country, upon
the general success Of which all others de-
pend. The farmer is manufacture. and
merchant, and much more, and Of all per-
sons lac l. the one who should conduct his
ahairs on the strictcst business principles
The very fact that farming - often utterly
dsrrgards fundamental business maNims
and methods, without inter ruin, Is Ia
itself the strongest evidence that it l.
a business offering unusual security
and wide margin 81 profit when properly
managed. Every farmers boy knows all the
tables OF weights and measures by heart,
hut how little these are used on farm
Even the size Of the farm itself Is n matter
OF uncertainty, dependent upon au old aud
unNcrihed deed or the books ot the ass, -~or.
There IL no accurate knowledge OF the size
81 the various fields or their actual product;
IL il all guess work. The farmer gurs-cs
which COW eats the most and gucs-c- which
Is losing weight aud which uning, and
gucsscs which gives the most milk IN q year.
and Fucsscs which milk is the richest, mi
80 gucssys nt the merits and profits ~ an his
stock, with very little actual knowledge ns
tn any, and making frequent serious mis-
take, which are never known. And In the
house they guess that the cream j. lust warm
enough to ohurn, aud guess IL wont pay g.
become patrons of the creamery. II II
wonder that clocks aud watches are ever
used IN such places instead of depending
upon the sun, aud guess at the time Of DAY
IN cloudy weather Dry measures arr In com
mon use Il u true, but they arr seldom need
ed, and only for matters oi minor importance
like the sale # few bushels ~ apples
potatoes OF rmin. Weighing II the simplest
method ~ measuring all standard products
and now almost universally used when
quantities are involved. A wagon load OF
wheat or ~ onions Instead ~ bDiug measured
by the bushcl. Is weighed like load Of hay.
The best way 10 keep the record of n cows
milk product j. hy weight All butter aud
IL won't De- long before cr1s nrr sold by the
pound No grocer would think Of doing
business Tor day without scales oi all sorts
but appliances for weighing at least IN any
variety arr unusual on farms tapc line,
or a surveyors chain in foot links, l. an In
expensive article, and every farm should
have one aud u.c H. that the vic of every
field may be accurately measured aud
recorded, and the exact acreage ~ every crop
knowG, not guessed at And 90 apply
ordinary prudence aud system 10 ones bust
ness affairs, the farm equipment should ia
Cludc scales Of such capacity aud variety a.
10 enable complete record 81 everything
going into the barn or storc-hOusc, and 81
everything consumed or sold. In place 81
estimates aud rough rucsscs there should
be a correct record Ut almost every occur
renee on the farm which involves time or
quantity, product purchase or sale. Some
time aud some money are needed 10 start
such a system aud to maintain H. Hut cN-
prricuCc proves that the time necessary ca
substitute absolute knowledge for the usual
guess work IN farming Is Gar lee, than one
would suppose, aud that it soon proves 81 be
time 10 used az 10 be true economy. In like
manner. the cost Of scales aud measures g.
soon saved by their use in place Of guessing.
us In the case Of other useful farm tools. Ia
short, " doesn't pay to depend upon guess
work ON the farm. when IL i so easy 10 have.
instead, that systematic management math-
rmatiCal accuracy aud proper record which
lio ht the foundation ~ success In every
business IL H. Alyorl, In American Cult.
NntUr.